DraftKings NHL value picks: Feb. 20

CENTERS
Spend up for: Evgeny Kuznetsov, Washington Capitals ($6,400)
Kuznetsov continues to prove his worth as a roll-every-night center in DFS. Unless you want to get creative with your lineup for a massive DraftKings contest, draft one of the safest point-producers in the game, who's still underpriced and playing on a line Alex Ovechkin as of Thursday. Kuznetsov is tied for eighth in cost among centers and has 59 points in 57 games heading into his game against the New Jersey Devils. He's better than a point per game at home and played more than 20 minutes Thursday against the New York Islanders with one assist, one block and one SOG (three DraftKings points).

Value pick: Martin Hanzal, Arizona Coyotes ($4,300)
Hanzal has back-to-back three-point games, a point in three straight, and 15 SOG in his past four games playing primarily alongside Max Domi ($4,900) and Anthony Duclair ($4,100) at even strength and on the power play. Hanzal has been injured multiple times this season but has been strong on the puck and is clearly Arizona's facilitator when healthy. He faces stingy St. Louis Blues goalie Brian Elliott on Saturday, but has 10 points, four blocks and 28 SOG in his past 10 games and doesn't come with much risk as long as he's priced this low.

WINGS
Spend up for: Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators ($5,700)
There's a lot to like about Forsberg in this spot. He had two assists and six SOG against the Los Angeles Kings earlier this season and has 24 points and 86 SOG in 29 games at Bridgestone Arena (3.9). He has been excellent in his past six games, with six goals, three assists, two blocks and 15 SOG. He's playing alongside Mike Ribeiro ($3,700) and Craig Smith ($4,100) if those stacks fit your price point, and is affordable himself at 16th among wings.
Value pick: P.A. Parenteau, Toronto Maple Leafs ($4,200)
With Leo Komarov suspended, Parenteau should get more ice time at home against the Philadelphia Flyers. Parenteau played more than 22 minutes Thursday against the New York Rangers, scoring a goal with four SOG. He has a point in three straight games and has 20 SOG in his past five. In a clear rebuilding year for the Maple Leafs, Parenteau has gotten his career back on track with balanced splits (15 goals, 15 assists in 56 games) and should have low ownership despite being one of Toronto's only offensive threats. He's tied for 45th among wings in price.

DEFENSEMEN
Spend up for: Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators ($8,000)
An even better idea than spending up for an elite forward is to invest in the best fantasy defenseman League-wide, who has production in line with the top forwards (65 points; tied for third in the NHL). The Saturday defensemen crop, outside of high-ownership, red-hot Shayne Gostisbehere ($5,900), does not offer much consistency, so investing in Karlsson allows you to employ middle-range and/or value picks at center and wing. Karlsson has been exceptional at home with 39 points and 94 SOG in 30 games, and has four assists and 12 SOG in four games against the Detroit Red Wings. He's been as explosive as anyone in DraftKings in his past 10 games with 14 points, 20 blocked shots and 36 SOG.
Value pick: Andrej Sekera, Edmonton Oilers ($4,300)
To complement Karlsson on your defense, reach down to find Sekera, who scored a goal with two blocks and one SOG earlier this season against the Colorado Avalanche and will be manning the top power-play unit with Connor McDavid, Jordan Eberle and Co. against Avalanche backup goalie Calvin Pickard, who has allowed 14 goals in his past five appearances. Sekera carries much less risk at home with four assists, 11 blocks and 10 SOG in five games at Rexall Place since McDavid returned to the lineup (3.7 DraftKings points per game in span).

GOALIES
Spend up for: Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals ($8,600)
If you don't spend up for Karlsson, bank on the most expensive goalie of the night with Holtby at home against the Devils, who will be on the second of a back-to-back set. He's 2-0-0 against New Jersey this season with five goals allowed and has a spectacular home record (18-2-1 with .929 save percentage). He's 7-1-1 in his past nine games and brings a level of trust far greater than any of the other five projected Saturday starters priced $8,000 or above.
Value pick: Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators ($7,500)
After hosting and blanking a red-hot Boston Bruins offense on Thursday in the midst of their long road trip, the Predators now face the struggling Kings, who will end a seven-game road trip (2-3-1). Rinne has solid home splits (14-9-3 with three shutouts) and Carter Hutton ($7,300) has been just as reliable lately (3-0-1 in past four games with four goals allowed) if he gets the call.

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